Boston’s parks and other green spaces

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER <br><br>Boston may be a concrete jungle, but there are green spaces to be found if you just know where to look.
Next

Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe

Armenian Heritage Park
<br><br>Located on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, this looping, circular maze of grass was dedicated in May to honor Armenian-born residents of Massachusetts as well as those who died during the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.
Next

Essdras M Suarez / Globe Staff

The Esplanade
<br><br>Stretching along the banks of the Charles River is The Esplanade, a favorite among fitness buffs and outdoor enthusiasts. The Esplanade includes miles of paved trails for runners and cyclists (and skateboarders) alike, as well as playgrounds for the kids and an open air performance stage called the Hatch Memorial Shell.
Next

John Tlumacki / Globe Staff

Boston Common
<br><br>In the heart of the city is the Boston Common, the crown jewel of Boston’s city park system and the oldest public park in the country. Measuring almost 50 acres, the park plays host to a variety of public attractions, including the annual (and free) Shakespeare on the Common and the Frog Pond (or ice rink, depending on the season). It also marks the start of Boston’s Freedom Trail.
Next

John Tlumacki / Globe Staff

Boston Public Garden
<br><br>Just across the street from Boston Common is the 24-acre Public Garden, where you’ll find flowers, a host of statues, and the city’s famous Swan Boats. Near the Charles Street and Beacon Street entrance to the Garden is the tribute to Robert McCloskey’s “Make Way For Ducklings” children’s book: a set of nine bronze ducks by artist Nancy Schön all lined up and ready for their photo op.
Next

Dina Rudick/Globe Staff

BU Beach
<br><br>Boston University students have long flocked to this grassy knoll on campus. With views of the Charles River, the spot earned its name because the rushing traffic from Storrow Drive is said to sound like waves. We’re not so sure about that, but it is a great place to soak up some sunshine.
Next

John Tlumacki / Globe Staff

Christopher Columbus Park
<br><br>For 4½ acres, this park by Boston Harbor packs in a lot of great events and wonderful maritime views. Pull up a spot on the grass to enjoy a picnic and take in the sights of the ships passing by, or simply stroll through on your way from the Rose Kennedy Greenway to the North End. On Sunday nights during July and August, enjoy free outdoor movies.
Next

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

Olmsted Park
<br><br>With views of Jamaica Pond and the Muddy River, Olmsted Park’s acres of natural vistas are open for all to enjoy. Named for its designer, Frederick Law Olmsted, the park includes a series of footbridges and paved paths perfect for cycling, jogging, rollerblading, or just plain walking.
Next

David L. Ryan / Globe Staff

Harvard Yard
<br><br>OK so we know this is Cambridge, but we just couldn’t leave it off our list. This grassy area in the middle of Harvard University is more than just a college quad. The school was founded in 1636, after all, and its campus is steeped in history. A grassy respite from the hustle of Harvard Square, Harvard Yard is a great place to rub elbows with the nation’s next generation of elites. Just don’t try to park your car here.
Next

Archives of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University

Arnold Arboretum
<br><br>At 265 acres, the Arboretum is the biggest component of the Emerald Necklace, a series of parks in Boston and Brookline that includes Boston Common, the Public Garden, and more. A private endowment of Harvard University, this Jamaica Plain park is the site of various trees and other plants that make up the Arboretum’s “living collection.”
Next

Don Eunson

The Fens
<br><br>This marshy stretch, which is often referred to as an "urban wild," started out as tidal wetlands prior to the 19th century, when it was filled in and transformed into the metropolitan oasis it is today. The stretch of park land now includes walking trails, rose gardens, statues, and privately maintained victory gardens dating back to WWII.
Next

Wendy maeda / Globe Staff

Pope John Paul II Park
<br><br>This 66-acre Dorchester park along the Neponset River is a favorite among kite enthusiasts for its windy location and wide-open space. There are also walking trails and sports fields, a well as a salt marsh area perfect for birds and birders alike.
Next

Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe

Commonwealth Avenue Mall
<br><br>With the eastbound and westbound sides of Commonwealth Avenue flanking it on either side, the Comm. Ave. Mall, as it is affectionately called, is a favorite dog-walking area for local residents. It is also another link in the Emerald Necklace, joining the Public Garden with the Fens.
Next

Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff)

Teddy Ebersol Field
<br><br>If you’ve ever dreamed of playing under the big lights of Fenway Park, this might just be the next best thing. Teddy Ebersol Field includes a series of baseball diamonds at Lederman Park on the extreme Northeast end of The Esplanade. On any given night you can find various little league players as well as members of adult softball leagues swinging for the lights.
Next

Joanne Rathe / Globe Staff

Christian Herter Park
<br><br>If being on the water is your thing, then Christian Herter Park in Brighton is your gateway. Rent a canoe or kayak and shove off from the dock onto the Charles River, or just pack a picnic and enjoy the view. There’s ample free parking here too, so no need to worry about feeding the meter.
Next

Dina Rudick/Globe Staff

Franklin Park
<br><br>Once a year, the wide open field at Dorchester’s Franklin Park is swarming with runners of all ages for the annual Boston Athletic Association half marathon (seen here). If running around isn’t your thing, you can always check out the gorillas at the nearby Franklin Park Zoo or work on your swing at the William J. Devine Golf Course, the nation’s second oldest course.
Next

John Tlumacki / Globe Staff

Fenway Park
<br><br>Arguably the greenest grass in all of Boston, this is the kind of lawn you can look at but can’t touch. Not without an MLB contract at least. A meticulous grounds crew keeps the Kentucky Bluegrass in check, mowing it daily, often having a little fun in the process. Next time you watch a game, pay close attention to the grass — you might just spot some stripes or a checkerboard or another pattern in the field.
Next

Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe

Rose Kennedy Greenway
<br><br>Hard to imagine that this used to have a highway running through it. After the Big Dig famously sent I-93 underground, the 1½-mile-long expanse extending from the North End to Chinatown was transformed into a series of grassy parks and water features as well as a place for public art.
Next

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

Castle Island
<br><br>OK, so it’s not a castle. And it’s not an island for that matter, either. (The 22-acre South Boston park was an island at one point, but land reclamation projects have since joined it with the mainland.) This grassy parkland frequented by joggers and dog walkers alike is home to Fort Independence, a site which dates back to the early 1800s.
Next

Ken Stein

Boston Harbor Islands
<br><br>Want to know the fastest way to escape the city? Board a ferry at Long Wharf, Hingham Shipyard, or the Fore River Shipyard, and head out to one of the Boston Harbor Islands, where you can bike, swim, camp, hike, and explore. Spectacle Island (pictured) features miles of walking trails while Georges Island is home to the Civil War-era Fort Warren.
Next

Submit your photos of Boston's green spaces
"/>

the boston globe

Know of more great grassy areas? <b><a href="http://www.boston.com/thingstodo/special/submit_photos_green_parks"target="blank">Submit your photos of Boston's green spaces</a></b>
Back to the beginning